The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-29

passed ike uaSn; anu ne WOul0
watch them out of sight with great
round eyes. lau Ching and clapping his
hands with delight
I'VE used to watch him in silence,
my wife and L for she often came to
sit with us. and cheer me by her pres
ence; and thoughts of the opportuni-
ties lie would miss, and the privileges
of schooling he would be debarred
from by my misfortune. were not calcu-
lated to make us cheerful
s'Onc beautiful summer day. when
had been some three months at my
Station. sitting as usual watching and
listening at my instruments. for want
of something better to do. / heard the
dispatcher's Office calling A. heard
him answer. followed by an order
from the office to IA for special freight
passing east heard the reply exactly
as the operator had given it to me on
the day of the wreck-.15 for special
then this order:
"To Conductor and Engineer Special Frsight
You will not leave A until special
passenger train, Fairfield, conductor, has ar
! rived"
The special passenger train re-
ferred to, was. as l knew. for l had
heard 1t reported by wire. composed of
an engine, superintendent private
car, and directors car. filed with the
officers of the road with their wives.
all of whom had been down the line
on pleasure trip. 10 inspect the new
station and grounds at our eastern
terminus. and were now running with
all haste. in order to reach their
homes in this city before dark.
Il had heard the superintendent
telegraphic request TO the dispatcher
10 give them the right of way rs far
as possible. and in accordance with
this instruction he was now holding
back the freight
Il sat idly watching the approach
of the special. and marking the quick
time they were making. as the tele-
graphic reports, one by one, succeeded
each other. as the train passed station
after siation-and still bemoaning my
hard fate.
No mistakes this time. I thought,
only for me was the i'll luck reserved;
for surely the operator at A woull
not, could not. commit the same fault
twice. This time there would be no
poor assistant to attach the blame to,
but the chief dispatcher.
+ | sat there some time filled with
these ungratcful and useless thoughts.
until was disturbed by the entrance
of the little boy, who had been busy
al play outside. He came in in high
glee, exclaiming: Papa! Papa! Train
coming!
No. dear. not just yet. Wait five
minutes. and then we will see them go
flying BY l answered him with
smile. knowing how pleased he would
be 10 see the rushing train.
No. now. papa. now! lean see the
smoke-come out, quick!' To please
him complied. and lookeI up the line
in the direction of the approaching
special. which had passed the last sta
ton east of me, and must now be
within five miles of our station.
THAT. that way, papa! Look
through the trees-see?'
Il turned. and saw rising above he
frees, the black smoke which denoted
the approach of train. In an instant
l understood the situation. The freight
was approaching. the freight which
was ordered to remain at A to
cross the passenger train. For mo-
ment was dazed. but only for mo-
ment. for l knew something must be
done. and that quickly. to avert an
awful catastrophe.
Below my station, some hundred
yards or 50, round a curve which hid
it from sight, was switch which
opened upon side track running by
the station for another hundred yards,
and which would hold the freight
could l but reach and open it before
the freight arrived there. Bat l must
also stop the passenger tram for fear
the freight would not get on in time.
Rushing into the station l grasped
my signal flags. put the blue in its
proper place. but not daring to trust
to that to stop them. for fear the engi-
neer. having his orders to run past my
station, and at the high rate of speed
he was coming, mightnot see it, took
the red flag and the boy in my arms.
and placing him in the middle of the
platform. put the flag in his hands.
"'Arthurr l said. sternly, do just as
papa says. now, and we will save the
trains. Stand right here! Do not
move except to wave this flag. sol
giving him the up-and-down motion.
Wave il, my brave boy, and do not
stop till papa gets backr
His blue eyes filled with tears al
my manner, and giving him kiss TO re-
assure him. l turned and ran for the
switch. Could reach it in time? /
must! must! Over The ties 1 ran
for life, for lives; for if the trains
came in collision at that high 7 ate of
speed, many lives must be sacrificed.
90 God! permit me TO reach it
firs;r / cried.
AS turned the curve Hooked back
at the station. There the little fellow
stood, just where l had placed him.
and the flag, yes! the flag was waving.
up and down. up and down. as fast as
the little arms could move it. and way
down the line as far as the eye could
reach, could see the special passen-
ger train coming. Now for it! Look
ing and running ahead again 1 saw